This work presents 369 British films produced between 1937 and 1964 that embody many of the same filmic qualities as those “black films” made in the United States during the classic film noir era. This reference work makes a case for the inclusion of the British films in the film noir canon, which is still considered by some to be an exclusively American inventory. In the book’s main section, the following information is presented for each film: a quote from the film; the title and release date; a rating based on the five-star system; the production company, director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and main performers; and a plot synopsis with author commentary. Appendices categorize films by rating, release date, director and cinematographer and also provide a noir and non-noir breakdown of the 47 films presented on the Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, a 1960s British television series that was also shown in the United States.

Michael F. Keaney is a fan of classic movies and the author of two McFarland books about film noir.

Michael F. Keaney
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 269
Bibliographic Info: 47 photos, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011 [2008]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6427-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0438-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments     v
Preface     1

The Films     7

Appendix A. British Films Noirs Listed by Rating     227
Appendix B. British Films Noirs Listed by Year     230
Appendix C. British Films Noirs Listed by Director     233
Appendix D. British Films Noirs Listed by Cinematographer     238
Appendix E. Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre     242
Bibliography     243
Index     245

“useful…a ready-reference tool”—Booklist; “well-documented…entertaining…recommended” —Choice; “any good film reference collection should include this volume” —Against the Grain; “excellent analyses…full of interesting facts…the 48 well-chosen photographs capture the genre’s hypnotic style”—ARBA; “essential…invaluable…a helpful reference tool…fills a definite gap in the study of British cinema”—Reference Reviews; “provides noir buffs with a illustrated guide to noir efforts across the pond”—Movie Magazine International; “an invaluable reference guide”—Reference & Research Book News.